Monkey menace plagues Vile Parle residents

MUMBAI: It was like any ordinary afternoon for Gunavanti Vora (87) until she decided to shoo away a monkey at the window, eyeing a biscuit in her hand last month. Before she knew it, the monkey had grabbed her hand, causing her to lose her balance and fall. Vora ended up with a fractured leg.
Residents of Tejpal Road in Vile Parle (E) are a troubled lot, harassed by a group of monkeys for the last three months."A monkey attacked an old lady, who was heading home from a temple. The animal snatched prasad from her hand, leaving her hand fractured,'' said Chetan Vora (41), a resident of Lumbini Park, where Gunvanti also lives.
"I was taking an afternoon nap with the window slightly ajar. I woke up to find a monkey stroking my hand. I ran outdoors for help. In the meanwhile, the monkey took my mobile and jumped out of the window," another resident Meena Kothari (41) said. "I called up my number. Alarmed by the vibrating mobile, the monkey dropped it on the terrace of the first floor,'' Kothari added.
Resident Kishor Vora (69) called the police station last month and was told to contact the forest department. He did so but claims that no action has been taken.
"I fulfilled my responsibility by submitting the report, the rest is not in my hands. It's the government's decision,'' said range forest officer Tanaji Patil at the Thane Forest Department.
Senior inspector Ramnath Ambre at Vile Parle Station says: "Till today no one has registered a complaint."